Arc-lamp electrode.



ERNST J. WATZL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ARC-LAMP ELECTRODE.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST J. WATZL, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Arc-Lamp Electrodes, of Which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to electric arc electrodes adapted to produce flaming or luminous arcs.

Tn constructing flaming arc electrodes, certain materials are added to support the are for enabling a long are to be drawn while other materials are added for the purpose of increasing the candle power and improving the color. Tungstic oxid belongs in the first class mentioned, and is therefore used more or less in flaming electrodes as an arc supporter. Titanium materials and rare earth compounds belong in the second class,

- both furnishing a high candle power of an intense whiteness.

It is the object .of my invention to combine rare earth oxids, titanium oxid and tungstic oxid in correct proportions to form a chemical compound and obtain all the advantages of each individual constituent and also further advantages due to their chemical union.

T have found that oxids of the rare earths, titanium and tungsten, will'combine in molecular proportions to form a chemical compound. These, as far as I have been able to find out in my experiments combine in a great many different proportions, but always in the ratio. of their molecular weights, 6. (2., the chemical compound has the composition where m, n and 7) represent the variable proportions of the oxids, and RE represents the rare earths, which substantially consist of cerium oxid. 45% of lanthanium and didymium and 3)? yttrium, ytterbium and thorium.

Tungstic oxid is expensive and. therefore, I prefer to form the compound with as low a content of this substance as elliciency will Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, will-5..

Application filed. April 14, 1913. Serial No. 761,056.

permit. l[ have found a compound having the formula the materials fuse and unite as a definite chemical composition. That the resulting material is a chemical compound is evidenced by the fact that the density is over 30% greater than would be the density of the same materials in a mechanical mixture; that the product is of uniform structure under the microscope; and that it crystallizes in regular monoclinic form. After the material is fused and cooled, it is easily crushed and can be mixed with carbon, calcium fiuorid, and other well known constitutents of flaming electrodes and formed into the desired shape.

If the three oxids are mechanically mixed together and included in a lamp electrode, only a small percentage would unite to form the chemical compound, as tungstic oxid and titanium oxid fuse at a much lower tem perature than the rare earth oxids. When unrestricted by inclosing walls, the oxids of titanium and tungsten will vaporize first and will not unite with the rear earth oxids, hence, to obtain the full advantage of the chemical compound, it is necessary to form it before it is putin the lamp electrode. I have also found that, when the three oxids are mechanically mixed together, the are formed between the electrodes is somewhat unsteady due to flickering. When the material is placed in the lamp electrode in the form of a chemical compound the unsteadiness is much reduced. The chemical compound is of greater density than the me ehanieal mixture and therefore more of it can be included in a lamp electrode. Also the denser the material. the more etlicient it is as a constituent of a lamp electrode and for this reason the materialswhen united as a chemical compound produce a 'varlous proportions With other materials more efiicient light than when mechanically mixed together.

\Vhile I have explained the use of the oxids in forming my improved compound, it must be understood that other forms such as the carbonates may be used. On account of the smaller cost of rare earth carbonates as compared to rear earth oxids, I prefer to use the former instead of the latter.

My improved compound can be used in to form the electrode, but I have found that excellent results are obtained by forming about 16% of the electrode of the compound.

Having described my invention, What I claim is:

1. An arc lamp'electrode containing the oxids of titanium, tungsten and the rare earths chemically united.

2. An arc lamp electrode having as one of its constituents a material consisting of compounds of titanium, tungsten and the rare earths chemically united.

3. An arc lamp electrode containing the fused oxids of titanium,.tungsten, and the rare earths in molecular proportions.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

ERNST J. WATZL. Witnesses IRA J. ADAMS, D. BREWER. 

